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[DONTwannaROW]

Speaking of Trailers-does anmyone know the best ratio of tongue weight to axle weight for a boat trailer.
I recently changed out a rusted tandem axle trailer with a single axle in better shape. My only problem is after taking the trailer off the hitch the tongue went up in the air 5 feet due to the weight of the V8 Volvo Penta in the back. I was able to move the boat forward about 8 inches on the trailer, it still wants to go up, but not near what it was.
Should I just add more balance weight up front, or should I try to do some welding and move th boat yet another 8 inches forward or so?

[RANGER]

Take a look back at REMs post "Trailers"!


RANGER


"KEEP YOUR LINES WET, YOUR POWDER DRY and THE BEER COLD"

[Someday]

See if you can move your axle back a LITTLE bit. REW had some great instructions on how to do this. Check archives.

[REW]

The general rule of thumb for tongue weight is 5-10% trailer weight. i.e. a 3000 lb trailer should have about 250 lbs on the tongue.

You don't want to add weight to your rig. You have engough weight already.

If your tongue goes up -- move the wheels back.

If they are welded - go to a welding shop and have them move them back.

Once they are cut loose -- basically balance the rig - where the axle will be and put the tongue on a platform scale.

Move the wheels back and forth until you get the proper tongue weight.

The worst thing for trailering is a light tongue. Whipping big time with a light tongue.

Take care

REW

[KevinA]

Had a 3000# boat once that trailered light on the ball, maybe 30 pounds. It tracked behind the truck very well, never moved. Went to Lake Erie twice with that rig (6.5 hrs each way). The biggest problem was the (I assume, it was behind a truck camper) bouncing of the trailer tongue would tend to loosen the nut holding the ball on. Had to tighted the ball up more than a few times. The boat was sold & replaced by another. The same ball hasn't loosened up in three years of running. Shift the axel if you have to, but try to get 5-7% weight on the tongue.